Chapter 4
“Where do you think you’re going, speaking back to me?!”
Swish—
Clarissa’s hand sliced through the air, but instead of striking me, it stopped midair, caught firmly by another hand.
Thud.
Someone’s strong hand had grabbed Clarissa’s wrist and held it in place.
“Who dares stop me…?” Clarissa’s voice trembled with anger.
“Milady, what you just said is correct,” came a calm voice from behind her.
Clarissa turned around in surprise. There stood a handsome man with striking golden hair and glasses, his strong grip still holding Clarissa’s wrist.
His hands, elegant yet firm, made him appear not only handsome but reliable.
I had been watching him approach from the moment he walked in, and a smile spread across my lips.
“Theon!”
The gray eyes behind his glasses briefly flicked toward me before returning to Clarissa. His mouth was set in a neutral line—there was no smile.
Theon Arpen.
He was the youngest and most capable butler in Luferen Duchy’s history.
After just a year of service, he had taken over the household duties and had straightened out the finances of a family that had been on the brink of collapse. He was a genius accountant and lawyer.
A former commoner, Theon was the only person to graduate at the top of his class from the Imperial Academy.
In his teenage years, he had started successful businesses under his own name and became known for turning any venture he touched into gold.
In my previous life, he had assisted Callista in managing Clain’s funds, contributing to the eventual downfall of Clain’s house.
“While inspecting the mansion, I heard voices coming from here,” Theon explained, his calm voice unwavering as he looked at me with a hint of curiosity.
Listening to him, I couldn’t help but recall his nickname from my previous life:
The Cold-Blooded Idealist.
Theon had always been someone who would side with the victim if something unjust happened within his domain, no matter who it was. Even when Clarissa glared at him with the fury of a beast, Theon showed no reaction, his gray eyes unblinking.
“I’ll take charge of the search,” he declared.
“But—!” Clarissa protested, her voice rising.
“This falls within the scope of duties entrusted to me by His Grace,” Theon said firmly.
Clarissa was silenced. He was right. She had no grounds to argue.
After Clarissa’s third marriage to Duke Albrine, she had come from a low-ranking noble family. Despite being the so-called “lady” of the house, the Duke had never given her full control over the estate.
Clarissa managed the household affairs, but the real decision-maker in important matters was always Theon.
‘That’s why Clarissa keeps filling the house with her relatives, making them chefs, maids, and knights.’
She was doing whatever she could to gain influence.
Looking at Theon’s unperturbed face, Clarissa finally lowered her hand, which had been raised to strike me. However, the expression on her face still showed intense discomfort.
Theon tugged at a small cord hanging by his side. The bell to summon the servants was clearly working, yet no one came.
“They won’t come if you call them here,” I remarked.
“What did you say?” Theon raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
“When I call, no one comes. Jenna has to go fetch them herself.”
There were no servants in the mansion who cared enough to respond to my needs. Every time I needed something, Jenna had to personally make the request, as no one thought it was important enough to act on.
Theon hadn’t realized this because, in his eyes, I had always been a nonentity, too insignificant to make any complaints.
“…So that’s how it is.”
Theon murmured to himself as he gently stroked the magic stone brooch pinned to his chest. At his touch, several servants and two knights rushed to my room.
“Did you call for us, Master Theon?”
“Search Jenna Swan’s and Leroy Brown’s rooms immediately. If you find any unaccounted-for money or books, bring them to me at once.”
“Understood!”
“The knights will stay here. Make sure no one leaves while the search is ongoing.”
His voice was firm, and there was no room for defiance. Theon’s commands carried a power that no one could easily challenge.
Clarissa realized she had no say in the matter and sank down into a chair, glaring at me with a chilling look. I just smiled sweetly in return.
“It’s not here.”
After a brief moment, the servants returned with empty hands. Leroy’s face twisted into a knowing smirk as he saw the results.
Of course, Leroy hadn’t hidden anything in his room—he was far more discreet than that.
As for Jenna, she had nothing of value. Theon already knew where Leroy hid his wealth.
“Search every place they normally go in the mansion—every maid or kitchen assistant’s room too.”
Theon ordered without hesitation. Clarissa’s face drained of color as she watched the scene unfold.
“Isn’t this enough? The child’s lies started all this. Why don’t we just punish the girl and her maid?”
Clarissa pointed at me with trembling fingers. Her eyes flickered, almost as if she regretted escalating things this far.
“Let’s keep searching, Theon. If we don’t find the truth, I’ll keep eating this terrible bread.”
I interrupted sweetly, smiling mischievously as I spoke. Clarissa glared at me, as if she could shoot fire from her eyes.
“If it’s a lie, it should be uncovered all the more,” Theon replied coolly, ignoring Clarissa entirely and turning his attention back to me.
Though his eyes remained cold, his brow furrowed slightly as though he was watching a fascinating specimen—a creature he was intrigued by.
Seizing the opportunity, I spoke up again.
“Master Theon, is the West Tower part of the mansion’s interior?”
“The West Tower, you say? If you’re talking about that old building at the corner of the estate… well, technically, yes.”
Theon answered with a puzzled look.
The West Tower was located at one end of the mansion grounds. It had a golden bell on top, but nothing else was there. The tower had been off-limits for years, its sole purpose being to house relics.
“No one comes or goes from there, so I don’t think a search is necessary. It’s a restricted area.”
“But Jenna often takes walks near there.”
I replied calmly, watching everyone’s eyes widen.
“I’ve never—”
“You’re saying Jenna goes there too? Not Leroy?”
Jenna stared at me, hurt by my accusation. Theon’s expression, on the other hand, grew more intrigued.
“What’s important here isn’t what I think.”
“What’s important then?”
“What evidence is found. Those who are in a position to judge must always suspect everyone,” I responded with confidence.
Theon’s gray eyes flickered with a hint of excitement. Apparently, this was the answer that pleased him.
Of course. This was a line from his graduation thesis at the Imperial Academy.
In my previous life, when I had been locked away by Clain with nothing to do, I spent my time reading books in the library. That was when I came across Theon’s thesis.
“…Not what I expected from a young lady.”
“None of us have ever been near the West Tower! This is an unreasonable search!”
As I spoke, Leroy’s booming voice interrupted, laced with frustration as he twitched his mustache nervously.
This wasn’t the same anger Jenna had shown—it was a clear sign of worry.
Leroy was afraid. Theon’s brows furrowed deeply.
“Ah… So this is what you were aiming for.”
Theon muttered under his breath before issuing another order.
“Search the West Tower immediately.”
He commanded one of the knights to carry out the search.
“Wait, butler!”
Clarissa shouted in protest, her voice filled with panic.
“No one has the right to search a restricted area like that.”
“Jenna told me Harper has been walking near it. So I have enough reason to conduct the search.”
Clarissa and Leroy tried to resist, but the knight followed Theon’s orders, leaving the room.
I could see Clarissa’s face go pale as she clenched her jaw, not able to suppress her anger.
“Found it, Master Theon!”
After a short while, the knight returned with a small wooden box.
Inside, several gold bars gleamed. Beside them was a ledger, worn down from too many glances.
“What’s written in the ledger?” Theon asked as he fixed his gaze on Leroy.
Leroy’s shoulders trembled as he refused to meet Theon’s eyes.
“It’s a record of transactions with the suppliers for the last three years, signed by Leroy Brown.”
“The ledger also came from the kitchen, didn’t it?”
“It seems the ledger was fake. The numbers didn’t add up, and the difference was stored in these gold bars.”
Bingo! Perfect evidence.
In my previous life, Leroy had hidden these documents in the West Tower, and now I had found them by chance.
Leroy had hidden them long before Clarissa had even suspected it.
“…Do you have anything left to say?”
Theon asked coldly after inspecting the documents.
Leroy stood frozen as Theon’s gaze bore down on him. With a terrifying calmness, Theon’s next words made Leroy’s face lose all color.
